From “Heaven’s Cure for Earth’s Care”
The child of God may well be happy in old age for his trust is in the One Who has said, “Even to old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you. I have made and I will bear, yea, I will deliver!” Isa. 46:4
“WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF”; but the leaf is never so beautiful as when it is faded. No artist ever painted a picture so beautiful as the panorama of woodlands transfigured with the indescribable mingling of gold, crimson, and saffron, as if a flood of Divine glory swept across them.
What is more beautiful than the declining days of a Christian? The light may fade and the shadows deepen, but there is increasing mellowness, sweetness, and serenity of spirit.
“In the fading leaf we have the pledge and promise of a coming spring, and in the autumn touch and dismantling ‘process of human life there lies the promise of an immortality beyond, which knows no sorrow and no decay. The coming glory is over all. Its light and peace even here and now pervade the restless spirit, the prelude and the foretaste of that brighter day whose sun will know no setting.”
But age is not only inevitable and beautiful; it is also blessed. Better than anything I can say about it is the testimony of one who experienced this blessedness. Listen to the words of this aged soul-winner!
“My mouth is full of laughter, and my heart is full of joy. I feel so sorry for folks who do not like to grow old, and who are trying all the time to hide the fact that they are growing old. If God should say to me: “I will let you begin over again, and you may have your youth back once more,’ I should say O dear Lord, if Thou dost; not mind, I prefer to go on growing old.’
“I would not exchange the peace of mind, the abiding rest of soul, the measure of wisdom I have gained from the sweet perplexing experiences of life, nor the confirmed faith I now have in the unfailing mercies and love of God, for all the bright, but uncertain hopes and tumultuous joys of youth. Indeed, I would not!
“These are the best years of my life— the sweetest, and the most free from anxious care. The way grows brighter; the birds sing more sweetly; the winds blow softer, the sun shines more radiantly than ever before. I suppose my ‘outward man’ is perishing, but my ‘inward man’ is being joyously renewed day by day.
“Some lessons that I have learned, or partially learned, I here pass on: Have faith in God—in His providence; in His superintending care, in His unfailing love. Accept the bitter with the sweet, and rejoice in both. The bitter may be better for us than the sweet. Do not grow impatient and fretful. If you fall into divers temptations, count it all joy, knowing “that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”.
“Victory is to be attained through the joyful acceptance of annoying trials and petty vexations as a part of God’s discipline (James 1.2-7). Keep a heart full of love toward everybody. Learn to be patient. If you cannot love them with complacency, then love them with compassion and pity; but love them, pray for them, and do not carry about with you hard thoughts and feelings toward them!
“Do not waste time and fritter away faith by living in the past, by mourning over the failures of yesterday, and the long ago. Commit them to God, and look upward and onward. ‘Forgetting those things which are behind’ said Paul, ‘and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14